[Lothar]

Here's another vote for the 22LR. I have a Ruger 22/45 Mark III. It's like a surgical instrument, it's so accurate out of the box. Get the 5.5 inch Bull barrel in blue and the price will be closer to $200 than $300. If you get the Hunter model, you'll get better sights and maybe a fluted barrel.

Ammo is cheap, so you can shoot to your heart's delight and come back the next day and do it again. I shoot bullseye targets at 25 yds and added a red-dot sight. You can keep score and work your way up the NRA Bullseye Certification levels for fun. Try the S&W and Browning too. See what feels best to you.

That said, I love 45 ACP. I don't own one, but I want one. I rent a Kimber at my favorite range, but I'm leaning toward a basic Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec. For launching a big slug of lead, the 1911 design can be very accurate.

A friend said to me, "22LR makes shooting affordable, but 45 ACP makes shooting enjoyable".